Love can be those springtimes
When in each other’s arms
We whiled away the wisps
Of youth as though forever
We were young.

Love can be those hard times
When we stared at each other
And saw the darkness
In our souls and the days
Of sad drudgery.

Love can be the child
Who came bursting in
And changed everything
From just you and me to
Something so much more.

Love could be the smoothing
Out of roughness and of toughness
Into a soothing happy
Day to day agreement that
Things are as they always will be.

Love could be the deep draw
Of breath, almost a sigh,
Of relief that so much is
Past, and peacefulness
Fills our days.

But when I say I love you,
It’s all of those and more.
It’s not me. It’s not you.
It’s not just love. It’s
Life.

When I say I love you,
It’s embracing the world
That we are walking through
Stanza after stanza
Holding hands.

Bill Purdin: 02/14/2006

Special Essays and Collections

Teaching My Daughter To Drive 
Landing On The Moon
No! No! Delete That!
Roger Miller & Me.
In The Gutter & Loving It.
Harvard Commencement Speech
Crazy Horse & Korczak
A Poet’s Chrestomathy 
Open Minds: A Preface to Morals

Short Stories

Kill Zone
Iznaya
The Last Remains
Wish You Were Here
Ratworld
Zachary Doane & The Cat
That Came In From The Cold
Abyss
More Than Blue Fishes,
More Than Me

Selected Comments

Vitiation
Trailer Park Kid
It’s Not About You
Miscellaneous
Perseverance
The Humble Fly and TWA 800
Big Is Really Small
Poems On Town Time
Spavination
Thank God It’s Monday
Pettiness

Selected Comments
Unadjusted

Honesty
Kayak Morning
Miscellany
President Going Down #1
Life Itself and…
Oafs, Thugs, Rabbits, Deer
Terra Cotta Army
Projects & Politics
Parental Oversight
Roy Rogers
Fertility & The Baby Bust
Best Revenge IBM & 2K
Just One Of Those Things
Mr. President, it’s for you…
The Rules Of Selection
Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
Starvation
Just Another Day
That’ll Be One Dollar…
President Going Down #2

  Howdy Doody
President Going Down #3
Yogi. Kids. 
Ferlinghetti
President Going Down #4
Sludge & Drudge
Presidient Going Down #5
President Going Down #6
President Going Down #7
Sexual Reality Check
President Going Down #8
President Going Down #9
President Going Down #10
President Going Down #11
Republican Pets
Benoit Lecomte
President Going Down #12
The Hubble Bubble
Puritans Redux
Crazy Jane Chronicles I
Crazt Jane Chronicle II
It’s Political After All
Newt Me No More, Baby
Spinning In Place
First Stone The Other Shoe
Stocks, Lords, Hillary
Look Ma, No Hands!
Family Values
Welding Wrongheadedness
Lame Ducks or Just Lame?
Corydon, Pennsylvania
Who’s Throwing Bombs?
Impeachment Excerpts
Assumption Reversals
What Really Happened
What’s Really Important
The Lessons Of History
The Full Monty, Etc.
The Next Best Thing.
At Amazon.Com
Sidney-To-Hobart
Let Alone Another Year
The Year In Pictures I
The Year In Pictures II
Wanna Go For A Ride?
Don’t Pospone It, Bill
The Twenthieth Amendment
Miscellaneous Items
The Lamest Lame Duck
Here Comes The Judge
Mr. Stevens & Mr. Hyde
Sui Generis
Pomp & Circumstance
It’s A Jungle Out There…
Vietnam Perspective
Those Senate Shut-Ins
Miscellaneous
Winners & Losers
Keeping The Faith.
Daniel In The Lions’ Den
“Those Stubborn Facts.”
“Why Internet Stocks?”

“Giving Them The Byrd.”
Golf History Is Made.
The Ten Questions.
The Pope & Bill
Back At It.
Trash & Burn
It Was Like A Movie
Potpourri
Is Nothing Sacred?
Isn’t It Ironic?
Amazon Dots You?
Lock ‘Em Up…
Baby Boomers’ Election
On Fame And Power
The Burning Bush
Jimmy Carter
Joe Dimaggio
Laguna San Ignacio
Farrago
The Dream Team
Give Me Patrick Henry
There Are No Enemies Left
Stealth No More
The Littleton Noumenon
Something To Expiate

Blogs

2004
2005
2006
2007
2008/2009
Current ]]> http://legendinc.com/2013/02/essays/feed/ 0 http://legendinc.com/2013/02/experience/ http://legendinc.com/2013/02/experience/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:22:38 +0000 Bill Purdin http://legendinc.com/?p=1840 Legend, Inc. is one of the most experienced and versatile advertising agencies you will encounter. As you look over our activities, remember that we are currently nearing project number 17,231. We started on Project number one in 1979.  We are intellectually, unpredictable, and creatively versatile. We easily utilize what we have learned one industry in all of the others. We love new challenges. This roster of experience is offered as proof of our education.

Financial Services

Image advertising • Checking Accounts • Loans • Retirement Campaigns
Branch Openings • Mortgages • Auto/Vehicles Financing • Annual Report
Commercial and Business Services • Equity Products • Youth Savers
Holiday Image • General Image • SBLI • Events • Internet Sites
Hedge Fund

High Technology

Film Microelectronics • Electronic Testing • Semiconductors • Packaging
Vacuum Engineering • Software and Computer Integrations • Nuclear
High Pressure Engineering • Circuit Boards • Surface Mount • Aerospace
Biotechnology • Communications • Air Quality • Robotics

Health Care

HMOS and Hospitals • Psychiatric Care and Substance Abuse • Dentristry
Medical Supplies • Home Health Care • Long-Term Facilities • Medical Insurance
Community Health • Addiciation Programs • Women’s Health
Maternity • Oncology • Elderly Care • Antibody Discovery

Other Categories

Automotive • Transportation • Ice Cream Manufacturing and Distribution
International Chemicals • Leather Industry • Newspaper and Magazine Publishing
Pollution Control and Testing • Silver Service Catering • Hardwood Custom Windows
Pressure-Sensitive Labeling and Materials • Apparel • Plumbing and Heating
Textile Manufacturing and Distribution • Restaurants • Medical Malpractice
Legal Advertising • Law Firms • Internet Providers • Candy Manufacturing and
Distribution • Reinsurance • Employee Benefits • Industrial Saws
Parachute Manufacturing * Skydiving Dropzones • Consulting Services
Travel • Entertainment

An important creative resource with a unique set of skills.

Updated: 5/5/2013
All agency numbers are from agency inception.
All website statistics are since launch on January 16, 1996.

Continuous years in business: 34
17,230 projects since project #1 on July 31, 1979
$33.5 million in total receipts
144 clients
16 large clients
Total agency impressions: over 63 billion+
Internet statistics to date: 174,629,870
Client losses due to mistakes: one
Client losses due to money disputes: two
Lawsuits: one small one
Average client retention: some clients = 12.5 years
Average client retention: large clients = 8 years, except one, 30 years

Current client roster : six large, 8 small, five pro bono
Current pitch roster: one bioengineering client we are interested in

You get up at 5:45 a.m. with a special feeling: “It’s Thursday. It’s BNI day.”You know you are going to the most important business meeting of your week … but not with the dread of a sales meeting; not with the concern of an important client meeting; not with the worry of a “what-is-going-to-go-wrong-now?” meeting. No, this meeting is with your best business friends and your most valuable referral partners. And you known they are all — right now — doing exactly the same thing you are. Dressing for success in their industry, bringing their two (or more) quality referrals for the week; they’ve all had a great GAINS-driven 1-2-1 or two this week, and they just can’t wait to thank their fellow members for the business (checks in the bank) they’ve gotten this week.

It’s very exciting and you just can’t wait to see what happens at this morning’s meeting.

As you arrive at 6:50 a.m., you notice there is networking already going on in the parking lot. As you near the meeting room you can hear the sounds of people talking, and the fresh coffee aroma from the brewing pot makes you feel right at home as usual.

You see two members setting up for their ten-minute presentations, and you notice there are at least six new people (visitors and qualified substitutes) in the room being introduced around. You see that the two-sided placeholders at the members’ and guests’ seats are already out and notice that one of the new people is sitting right next to you. She’s already there. You introduce yourself and discover that she is in a business that could be a great referral partner for your business. You think to yourself, “Our Visitor Hosts are really on the ball today.” You introduce the visitor around and notice how happy she is with the energy in the room and with the quality of members she is meeting. You can tell she is enjoying herself. You get a cup of coffee for her and spend the next ten minutes meeting with the other visitors and guests, exchanging business cards, and catching up with some of the other members of the chapter. Just before the meeting starts, you easily set up two 1-2-1s for the week. One is going to be followed by a golf match on Friday afternoon. Perfect.

The meeting is called to order and the president introduces the visitors by name and their business. They acknowledge the applause by smiling at the chapter. The president then briefly introduces the leadership team, and gives a brief overview of what BNI’s mission is. Then a member who won the speaker’s award last week gives a thoughtful, practiced one-minute “Purpose and Overview.” You can tell that the guests and visitors are paying close attention when he talks about the new business he has gained from the chapter and the great referrals he has given.

The meeting proceeds to the “60 second commercials.” Each member is specific and thoughtful in their presentation. Some are funny (even hilarious), some are heartfelt and meaningful. When every member has spoken, each visitor stands and introduces herself or himself. One says, “I usually hate to speak in public, but this meeting has made me feel so at home that it’s really easy.” Another says, “I feel like I know many of you already and I haven’t even been here an hour.” Still another says, “I already have business for some of you. What a great idea this meeting is.” The speaker’s award is then given, the trophy placed in front of the winner, where it remains for the rest of the meeting. His photo was taken for the website’s “weekly news” section, as were the photos of all the guests and visitors.

The ten-minute presentations were great today. One presenter has a well-prepared slide show and uses it to illustrate, guide and enhance the listeners’ experience, but the speaker never reads from it. Everyone can tell how carefully she prepared for today. The other presentation, “Myths or Facts of Plumbing,” constantly involves the audience and everyone can’t wait to participate. Even the visitors are raising their hands to get in the act. Both presentations ended on time and were followed by warm and appreciative rounds of applause.

The “I have” portion of the meeting arrived. NInety percent of the members started with “I have a referral” and most had at least two (a total of 48 referrals passed by 39 members present). Some members started with “I have a ‘Thank You For Closed Business’” and a compliment to the member who gave the referral that resulted in the closed business.Two members stood up with testimonials. They were well-stated and informative. The guests and visitors were listening intently. As the overflowing basket of referrals was passed around, it came in turn to each visitor. They each stood and praised some aspect of the meeting they liked the most. There was a brief fun drawing for speakers’ door prizes and for the chapter fundraiser to help members in life events and hopefully to have enough left over at the end of the year for the local scholarship the chapter supports.

The president asked the visitors to step to another room with the vice president to discuss the application process for membership and to answer any questions they may have had. There were a few announcements, a discussion of an upcoming social mixer and a reminder about the next visitor day. [Secret phrase: Guide and Enhance. Remember this phrase for the meeting this Thursday.] The president then offered an inspirational closing quote and there was thunderous applause as the meeting closed with a very high level of energy and enthusiasm. This occurred just as the vice president and visitors were returning. The members lingered for a while over coffee, networking, talking with the guests and arranging upcoming 1-2-1s and other things for the week.

After the meeting, when you pulled out of your parking space to begin the drive to your place of business, there were still members by their cars networking with each other.

You arrived at work before 9:00 a.m., inspired, smiling, and ready for the day’s success.

Your employees knew that look. They see it every Thursday. When it’s BNI day.

- – - – - – - – - -
End of letter.
- – - – - – - – - -

Thank you very much for reading this …

Dear members,

The presentation I will be making at your next meeting outlines the steps and systems that will make building your chapter to over 40 members, doing over $1.5 million worth of business, and passing over 2,000 referrals in a year, easily within your reach. Believe it or not, you already have everything you need for the achievement of this next level of success.

The roughly eight minutes you spent reading this is much appreciated.

Warm regards,

Bill

Bill Purdin
Director, Boston Region
bill@bnimass.com
781-990-8707
www.bnimass.com

It was a time of great and exalting excitement.

The country was up in arms, the war was on,
in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism;
the drums were beating, the bands playing,
the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and sputtering;
on every hand and far down the receding and fading spreads of roofs
and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun;
daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue
gay and fine in their new uniforms,
the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts
cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by;
nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting,
to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts
and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause,
the tears running down their cheeks the while;
in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag
and country and invoked the God of Battles,
beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring
of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.

It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits
that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness
straightway got such a stern and angry warning that
for their personal safety’s sake they quickly shrank out of sight
and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came-next day the battalions would leave for the front;
the church was filled; the volunteers were there,
their young faces alight with martial dreams-visions of a stern advance,
the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers,
the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke,
the fierce pursuit, the surrender!-then home from the war,
bronzed heros, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory!

With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy,
and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers
to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag or,
failing, die the noblest of noble deaths.

The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read;
the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst
that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose,
with glowing eyes and beating hearts,
and poured out that tremendous invocation — “God the all-terrible!
Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!”

Then came the “long” prayer.

None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading
and moving and beautiful language.
The burden of its supplication was that an ever–merciful and
benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers
and aid, comfort, and encourage them in the day of of battle and the hour of peril,
bear them in His mighty hand,
make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset;
help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country
imperishable honor and glory –

– An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up
the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed
in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending
in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale,
pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering,
he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher’s
side and stood there, waiting.

With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence,
continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words,
uttered in fervent appeal,

“Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father
and Protector of our land and flag!”

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside
– which the startled minister did — and took his place.
During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn
eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said
“I come from the Throne-bearing a message from Almighty God!”
The words smote the house with a shock;
if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention.
“He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd
and will grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger,
shall have explained to you its import-that is to say, its full import.
For it is like unto many of the prayers of men,
in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of
– except he pause and think.

“God’s servant and yours has prayed his prayer.
Has he paused and taken thought?
Is it one prayer?
No, it is two- one uttered, the other not.
Both have reached the ear of Him Who heareth all supplications,
the spoken and the unspoken.

Ponder this–keep it in mind.
If you beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware!
lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time.
If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it,
by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor’s crop
which may not need rain and can be injured by it.
“You have heard your servant’s prayer–the uttered part of it.
I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it
–that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts,
fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly?
God grant that it was so! You heard these words:
‘Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!’
That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words.
Elaborations were not necessary.
When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned
results which follow victory–must follow it, cannot help but follow it.

Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also
the unspoken part of the prayer.
He commandeth me to put it into words.

Listen!

“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts,
go forth to battle-be Thou near them!
With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace
of our beloved firesides to smite the foe.
O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells;
help us to cover their smiling fields
with the pale forms of their patriot dead;
help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded,
writhing in pain;
help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire;
help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief;
help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended
the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst,
sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter,
broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave
and denied it-for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord,
blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage,
make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears,
stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!

We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love,
and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all
that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts.

Amen.

(After a pause)

“Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak!
The messenger of the Most High waits.”

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic,
because there was no sense in what he said.

————

Twain apparently dictated this poem around 1904-05; it was rejected by his publisher, and was found after his death among his unpublished manuscripts. It was first published in 1923 in Albert Bigelow Paine’s anthology, Europe and Elsewhere.